For Thailand, nothing but bad news and good news and also more bad news and additional bad news.
Good morning world, what a wonderful Thursday, March 10, the first two-digit monthly date in 10 days.
For February and a bit of March, Russians were the single biggest nationality of tourists and visitors to the "re-opening of Thailand". Now, not so much.
Those junta-approved "experts" we know so well and adore so much reckon that the war will cost Thailand's tourism industry 244.7 billion with-a-'b' baht, and drag down the country's GDP by two, maybe three percent.
Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the business sector has kept a close watch on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, now that the situation is expected to be extended and unlikely to end sometime soon.
PHOTO: Ukranians stage a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine at Lumpini Park in Bangkok.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2276679/
ALERT ACHTUNG ATTENTION
All citizens must update their thesaurus by C.O.B. on Thursday. There will be random inspections:
Russian (adj)
sad, trapped, morose, sorrowful, homesick, flightless, cryptoless, visaless, cashless, credit-less, abject, heavyhearted, bewildered, distressed, depressed, melancholy, Aeroflot-less
Related
A Russian-food restaurant in left-ish Austin, Texas, has changed its name from "Russia House" to "House" to make sure even dolts understand that it's not at all pro-Russian. Even though it makes and serves borscht.
and Also
Crypto exchanges everywhere are blocking Russian accounts (photo).
Oh, fer...
DON'T GO FULL 'LIBERTY CABBAGE' ON RUSSIA:
Cardiff Philharmonic removes Tchaikovsky from program in light of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture was due to be included in the orchestra's upcoming all-Tchaikovsky concert at St David's Hall on 18 March, but it was considered by the orchestra 'to be inappropriate at this time'.
Nut-jobs trying to out-Plemiannikov Jane Plemiannikov, but no one can out-do Jane Plemiannikov!
https://www.classical-music.com/news/cardiff-philharmonic-removes-tchaikovsky-from-programme-in-light-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/
It is actually much worse, much more pin-headed and way crazier than that. Just had a look at the website:
https://www.classical-music.com/
Jefe Jeff Bezos hits the trenches:
Amazon will 'withholding services' from Russia. Customers in the country will no longer be able to watch Prime Video, and Amazon won't make retail deliveries in Russia or in neighboring Belarus.
Speaking of Jeff, he's selling super-ugly water-repellent work pants for $40 and up - 1,322 baht in real money.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V8QXHNP/ref=as_li_tl
Related
The (very) conservative U.S.A. commentator Candace Owens noted that
Russian Lives Matter
The bad news (for Rooskies)
Tobacco giant sanctions Russia
Philip Morris will wind down manufacturing in the country
One of the world's largest tobacco manufacturers, Philip Morris International (PMI), said on Wednesday it was reducing production volumes and suspending planned investments in Russia amid ongoing supply chain disruptions and a changing regulatory framework.
The good news (for Thais, and the Thai tax collectors)
Philip Morris International has no intention to sanction Thailand or cut back supplies of Marlboro or Benson & Hedges. Whew!
- The 2022 chairman of ASEAN is Cambodia, and it was with heavy heart it announced that President U.S. President Joe Biden's attempt at a two-day U.S.-ASEAN summit on March 28-29 via the Chinese sexting software Zoom has been (choose one) postponed/cancelled. Foreign minister Prak Sokhonn texted: "It has been postponed to a later date because some ASEAN leaders cannot attend the meeting on the proposed dates."
+ Russian president Vlad "The Invader" Putin issued a global list of Good Countries and Bad Countries, and Thailand wasn't on it. Thailand voted for the popular anti-Russian resolution at the United Nations but it also claimed it was "going neutral" on the Ukraine war.
- Thailand's junta-controlled National Communicable Disease Committee announced the fifth new date in 10 days for a possible/maybe decision to re-define the Chinese Covid-19 pandemic into an 'endemic': July 1.
- The China-origin disease that won't stop, didn't.
Malaysia has promised to open all borders to vaccinated, masked tourists and visitors on April Fool's Day.
https://bityl.co/BFkQ
Yeah, well... RIP, I guess
Man who received world's first pig heart transplant dies
He lived and died in the U.S.A. state of Maryland. He got an extra two months of life from the little piggy.
https://www.rt.com/news/551574-pig-heart-transplant-patient-dies/
Think Piece
Unoriginal but fact-packed
Russia's invasion of Ukraine could spell trouble for Thailand's vulnerable economy
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the potent sanctions the West has imposed on Russia will likely undercut global growth, increase inflation and disrupt supply chains," according to Maybank Investment Banking Group Research's latest report.
"ASEAN will not be spared from the global fallout."
https://www.thaienquirer.com/38364/despite-little-direct-trade-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-could-spell-trouble-for-thailands-vulnerable-economy/
THAILAND ECONOMY INFLATION ENERGY
Thailand: Oil Fund borrowing limit to rise
Junta will peg diesel price 'as long as it can'
Thailand's National Energy Policy Committee will discuss measures to deal with soaring energy prices, including efforts to maintain the cap on diesel prices at below 30 baht a litre.
English translation: The NEPC has been unable to unearth a clue.
But Prayut did emerge and speak into a TV mic, so there is that.
Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow He said the NEPC will now consider the best course of action as global oil prices have surpassed US$120 (3,980 baht) per barrel, driven by rising demand from an economic recovery in many countries and the impact of the conflict in Eastern Europe.
The high prices have complicated the government's efforts to maintain the 30-baht cap, prompting the NEPC to convene the meeting, Mr Supattanapong said.
"Oil prices have skyrocketed quickly," he said.
PHOTO: Yes, we noticed.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2275923/
General addresses his troops:
Thailand's junta-appointed 'prime minister' Prayut invited loyalist party leaders to a nice dinner at the fancy Rajpruek Club in northern Bangkok on Wednesday.
But before dinner, he warned the politicians and media to not even raise the issue of a possible snap election.
Prayut wouldn't speak to the media, but Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit said Prayut wanted to talk about Russia-Ukraine, his vow to remain neutral and what effect that is going to have on Thailand.
The men made no decisions, but the gobbledegook was thick.
"It was an in-depth talk in an informal atmosphere, complementing discussions in cabinet meetings," said Jurin, who is a deputy prime minister and commerce minister.
Thailand's "consumer confidence index" dropped for the second month in a row, reported the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
The index fell to 43.3 in February from 44.8 in February.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the country's economy may grow less than a forecast of 3.5% to 4.5% this year due to the impact of the Ukraine crisis on tourism, trade and consumption.
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand could also miss the ministry's forecast of 7 million this year, Mr Arkhom told a news conference.
PHOTO: Arkhom: Not all of the news is bad, but most of it is.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2276387/
The disease that simply will not stop, didn't...
Wednesday's one-day numbers for the Chinese Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand:
22,073 new Covid cases
69 more deaths
60,837 in hospitals (-1,426)
1,200 in ICU (+11)
404 on ventilators (+4)
24,747 discharged from care
Since the pandemic started in early 2020, there have been 3,088,873 Covid-19 cases, including 865,438 this year, with 2,843,850 complete recoveries to date.
The accumulated death toll stood at 23,438 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 1,740 so far this year.
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS ENDEMIC
Thailand health experts announced plans on Wednesday to celebrate Canada Day (July 1)
But without the Niagara Peninsula champagne
Thailand's junta-approved 'ministry of public health' announced that as of Canada Day, there will be be more coronavirus pandemic. Or epidemic, either.
As of July 1, Thailand's health world will celebrate a name switch to 'endemic'.
And there will be a lot more changes, including jacked-up, hospital friendly treatment fees.
By mid-April, medical fortune-tellers are forecasting somewhere around 50,000 Covid-19 cases per day. Oh, sorry. Make that 100,000 new cases per day. Just in time for the Thai New Year celebrations (Songkran) and water festival.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-is-transitioning-to-an-endemic-so-what-happens-now-if-you-catch-covid/
THAILAND MILITARY DEFENCE
The Royal Thai Air Force has gone on record at last:
It doesn't just want to buy F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States.
It needs them. 'They are a necessity'.
Air Vice Marshal AVM Prapas Sornchaidee, spokesman for the Royal Thai Air Force, said on Wednesday that it is the duty of the force and its commanders to ensure full preparedness for the sake of national security.
"Acquiring new technology is part of the air force's bid to heighten capacity," he said.
And the army
Yet another PLAN by Thailand's ruling junta
Royal Thai Army looks to go green with electric vehicles
The Royal Thai Army plans to replace old vehicles with electric vehicles (EV), following the government's policy to promote the use of green energy.
Col Sirichan Ngathong, the army's deputy spokesman, said Gen Narongpan Jitkaewthae, its commander-in-chief, wanted to start the replacement drive with army units in Bangkok before expanding to other provinces.
On Wednesday, the army chief and his team including Gen Apinan Khampeo, the deputy commander-in-chief, and Gen Phumipat Chansawang, assistant commander-in-chief, visited SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA), a renewable energy developer and pioneer in EV development, and its subsidiary Amita Technology (Thailand) Co., which operates a battery and energy storage system production facility in Chachoengsao province, just east of Bangkok.
QUOTE
If you must travel to New Zealand, make sure you are fully vaccinated.
And also Thailand.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which to be clear, hasn't prevent much, recently. And still refuses to state what is "fully vaccinated."
UNQUOTE
Coronavirus-ridden Hong Kong began a campaign on Wednesday to get the elderly vaccinated against China's Covid-19.
Mandatory testing, said officials in China's newest colony, is "not a priority".
Weed gets tourists, right?
Thailand is edging ever-so-slowly towards legal and recreational marketing of marijuana. S
The latest brainstorming by wealthy public health 'minister' Anutin Charnvirakul concludes it's the only way toi 'lure back foreign tourists'.
CAUTION: He could be right. Every other programme for tourists has taken spectacular pratfalls.
IMPORTANT NOTE
If you are planning a trip to Thailand for a couple of days and nights of nothing but cannabis, you're still SOL.
Parliament and military decrees have slowly legalised some growing, sale and consumption of cannabis, between February 2019 and January 2022.
However, cannabis sold in Thailand will not cause a high as products with more than 0.2 per cent of the psychoactive component THC remain illegal.
Semi-acceptable summary of where marijuana stands at
PHOTO: Loyal regime supporter Anutin Charnvirakul and some of his favourite plants.
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/thailand-travel-cannabis-secret-weapon-tourists-after-covid-1503875
Prince Andrew's sex assault case closed after settlement paid
To put it another way,
British royal turd pays (very) young American girl a huge amount of money he took from British taxpayers, and his rape case and all charges disappeared and he will never be accountable.
The pay-to-rape deal was brokered by Prince Charles, who has the largest ears in British royal history.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/03/07/prince-charles-reportedly-set-lend-duke-york-millions-settle/
Just when you think you've got it bad
And you feel very sorry for yourself...
China's president-for-life Xi Jinping has turned off all Premier League football in all of China.
It's a punishment, because some Chinese citizens are cheering for the Ukrainians to beat the living heck out of the Russians.
Chinese citizens have no right to watch Premier League football.
But for good behaviour, the Communist Party of China may, on some occasions, allow such a privilege.
PHOTO: For this unforgiveable show of disobedience at Sunday's Carabao Cup final (Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool at Wembley) all China is put into football detention.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60524865
Sure, just like China didn't want any regime change in Hong Kong, they just wanted Carrie "Silence of the" Lam as a puppet.
Russia not seeking regime change in Ukraine – Foreign Ministry
https://www.rt.com/russia/551550-russia-ukraine-regime-change/
Related
The top dog at the U.S.A.'s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spoke to the U.S. House of Representatives (parliament) on Wednesday, on a single subject.
"Look," William Burns told congresspeople, "Do not underestimate President Xi and the Chinese leadership's determination with regard to Taiwan."
Translation: China is going to attack and try to conquer Taiwan.
He said Xi and other top communists are taken aback by the strong determination of the Ukraine, and by world opinion for Ukraine and against Russia.
Question: Was Xi considering the PPP of the last Chinese invasion, against Vietnam in 1979, and the butt-kicking suffered by the Chinese 'Prople's Liberation Army'?
He should.
PHOTO: China attempted a "limited, punitive invasion" of northern Vietnam in February of 1979, but Peking's 150,000-man human-wave assault was arse-kicked and the Chinese were forced to retreat.
https://bityl.co/BFIS
South Koreans voted on Wednesday voted for a new president, hoping again all reality he/she has some ideas about dealing with Covid-19 and soaring home prices.
Meanwhile, South Korea suffered 342,446 new cases of Covic-19 on Wednesday.
No typo: 342,446 new cases.
Also
Biden announces a U.S. ban on Russian oil imports.
Immediately, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates refused to take phone calls from Biden.
and
McDonald's, icon of post-Soviet era, to close all restaurants in Russia
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/mcdonalds-icon-post-soviet-era-close-all-restaurants-russia-2550071
Singapore (I wish to repeat that SINGAPORE!) won the bronze medal in Division IV hockey in their first appearance on ice.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/singapore-ice-hockey-team-wins-iihf-world-championship-bronze-medal-2550711
DISCOVERIES EXPLORERS
Endurance has been found.
Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton's legendary wooden ship is shockingly well-preserved.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/endurance-ernest-shackletons-lost-ship-found-after-107-years-11646821921
Say, is there any update yet on the number of Canadian or U.S.A. citizens arrested and/or charged with sedition, secession or similar?
If not, has the C.P.B. issued a list of Canadian criminals stopped and not allowed into/out of the U.S.A. so far this year?
Or Mischief Makers?
Or are all those numbers still stabilised at zero?
Russian cats are also banned. That’ll show ‘em. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/03/1084205316/russian-cats-banned-international-competition